It seems like there are rumors, releases, and details every day about a new device from this manufacturer or that carrier. I know that I read more every day about the next “big phone,” or the greatest “super phone” yet. However, what I don’t see much of are headlines that show the current phones getting updated to the latest version of Android. It seems like the only way to get up-to-date on many devices is through a custom ROM.

As far as I can tell, there is only one option that doesn’t suffer from this problem. Google’s own development phones get the latest software before any other phone does. If I don’t want to wait for months for an update, then I have to get a Nexus phone. I know it seems strange, but I’m going to wait for the next Nexus device. There are several factors that lead me to this decision.

All my thoughts on fragmentation aside, this is a bad position for Google. When compared to the competition, Android updates are a total mess. With so many great pieces of hardware floating around, it baffles me as to why the manufacturers would leave some users behind the curve. I understand that they want to make money, but doing so at the expense of customer satisfaction is unreasonable.

I am using a Samsung Captivate. I bought it around the time it launched last summer, and I have loved every minute with it. My biggest complaint, like many other U.S. Galaxy S owners, is the incredibly long wait for updates. It took months for us to get an official Android 2.2 update, and we are still waiting for Gingerbread. In the mean time, we are now hearing about the upcoming launch of the Galaxy S II in the U.S.

This upsets me as a user. I hate that I have been a loyal user of this device for over a year, and I don’t feel like it’s gotten anything. When Samsung offers a new device as an alternative to a simple software update, I feel cheated. I don’t want to have to buy a new device, at full price, simply to be able to use the latest version of the operating system.

Before you tell me, I know that I can run a custom ROM. In fact, I am currently using CyanogenMod 7 Nightlies on my Captivate, and its really nice to have all the latest features. However, because its based on firmware for a different device, it almost never preforms as well in all tests as official updates. There are minor issues with the camera quality, as well as the battery life. All in all, it would be better if Samsung simply gave us the update so we could work with that.

What do I plan to do about this? For the time being, nothing. I am going to sit tight and use my phone until it breaks, or until my contract is up in March. My plan then is to get my hands on some AT&T supported version of whatever Nexus device is currently available. My hope, like many others, is to get an official developer device for Ice Cream Sandwich.I feel like getting that phone is the best course of action for many reasons. First of all, it guarantees that I will have the latest official firmware. Google is very good about getting those updates out to users while avoiding the carriers, which is good news for me. That also means that I won’t have to deal with carrier bloatware, because my updates won’t come from my carrier.

Secondly, I see a great amount of potential for cross-device integration with Ice Cream Sandwich. I like the idea of being able to start a game on my phone and finish it on an Android tablet or a Google TV. That sort of integration would change the landscape of Android. Combine that with Google’s love of cloud services, and you have a recipe for greatness.

All in all, I can’t see a reason not to wait for whatever is coming next from Google. I know we haven’t heard any firm details on a sequel to the Nexus S, but we know it is probably coming sometime this fall or winter. We also know that Ice Cream Sandwich is the next major version of Android, and that it’s probably coming very soon. I suppose the only kink in my plan is that AT&T may not carry the device directly.

No matter what happens, my plan will stay the same. If I have to buy it unlocked with AT&T bands, so be it. Hopefully, it will come equipped with GSM and LTE radios, meaning I can use it in the future. The prospect of always having the most up-to-date version of Android is too enticing to pass up.

Do you have any thoughts on this topic? Are you waiting for the next Nexus, or are you happy with the updates on your current phone? Let me know what you think by leaving a comment below.

23 Comments

I ordered my Nexus One on the day it became available and have loved it ever since…. The two year contract will come up in January, and await the arrival of the next Nexus model – I don't think I'll ever buy anything other than pure, clean Android.

The life cycle of Android phone: 1. Manufacture announce the super phone – with superb hardware and latest Android OS. Fans go crazy. FTW. 2. Three months later, carriers announce to carry that phone. Fans go crazy. FTW. At the same time, Google release a update to Android. 3. Another three months later, phone becomes available. Hardware is still good but not superb. Software is old already. 4. Three months later, Google announce/release next major update to Android. Fans wait for manufacture to update. 5. Keeping waiting for a year, phone finally updates to the OS a year ago. Google already announce/release another major update. Fans wait again.

Sage advice from Mickey Papillon "Never buy a device for what you hope it will become someday by means of updates. Buy for what is today". Its really quite simple, if Froyo is out, don't buy a Eclair phone hoping that it will get a quick update like you did. This will only lead to disappointment. That being said, I too plan to wait for the next Nexus phone. My reason is a little different. I currently own a Nexus S and sure there are all kinds of phones out there with better specs but none of them work as well for me as my Nexus S currently does with vanilla Android. I could care less about updates since my phone works great currently. My .02,

I totally agree with that. I never bought my Captivate with hopes of getting the latest Android version. I bought it because it was the best Android phone on AT&T at the time. Now, a little over a year later, I'm tired of waiting around for Samsung to update it. It's time for me, as a power-user, to get a true Google device.

While I can definitely sympathize with your argument, for me, I don't mind rooting to get what I want at all. I bought an EVO 4G off contract in August and immediately rooted it, flashing CM6 (then CM7) nightlies the entire way. The experience was fast, clean, vanilla Android, and I loved it. While I'd love to have a Nexus device, we've got the NS4G on Sprint, which is now old. AT&T just got theirs and it's REALLY old, compared to the devices out. So now we're all gunning for the next (unannounced and unheard of) Nexus phone. I was up for an upgrade and needed to get a phone, so I got the EVO 3D. I enjoy it. I'm considering taking it back for the Photon, just to see if the Pentile Matrix screen bothers me as much as everyone else. With HTC and Moto both unlocking their bootloaders, we're sure to see CM7 (and eventually, 8) on both of these phones. Plus, I like the added goodies CM ROMs bring. It's unfortunate that your Galaxy S has (some) issues with it, but as long as developer ROMs work as well for me on my new phones as they did on my EVO 4G, I don't have a need to wait for the next Nexus device. Just my two cents, though.

My problem with rooting and ROMs isn't for myself. Its for my mom, who also uses an Android phone. She deserves better treatment than carriers/OEMs are giving to her at the moment. There are security and stability issues found with older software, and those need updated. She couldn't root or ROM if I told her how, so she relies on people who won't send her updates. Its unfortunate.

If and when that comes true, it will be a good day for Android. However, due to the open source nature of Android and the current track record for the carriers and manufacturers, it seems unlikely. Google only has so much pull without locking down the ecosystem.

I've had both nexus devices so far and they've been great. I really like not waiting for updates which is the biggest reason I haven't picked up a honeycomb tablet. I'd like to pick up the next nexus sight unseen, but I really want something with better battery life. The S is only good for half a day of regular usage.

Just my late .02, but the ASUS TF has a great update record. We got 3.2 last week and it's running pretty solid for me, I'm loving it. I had Nexus One (my daughter has it now…drowned her phone) and enjoyed it until I got the G2 for free…I really like that phone but it's back to update oblivion…Gingerbread is finally rolling out, but hasn't hit me yet. I agree with staying with the Nexus phones, and the ASUS tab is pretty sweet too.

While I agree with all of your arguments, we are after all geeks. I have my original Nexus One and I've had my Droid X rooted and switched ROM's countless times. My wife on the other hand could care less about technology, but she likes her Droid 2. She has no idea what version of Android it's on, or that there are possibilities to do other things other than use the phone. Now, she does use many of the advanced features like navigation and whatnot, but she only knows what is available (or what I tell her is available). I think there are a lot of people out there who could care less about versions of Android (or IOS for that matter). Most buy a phone and use it and have no idea of other options/upgrades/etc. This could very well be the main reason most manufacturer's don't care how long it takes to upgrade.

I couldn't make that argument for my wife, as she is also my first editor. She often knows everything about Android that comes through my fingers, and she likes to be on the latest version. Then again, she's also a bit of a geek. As I said above, my argument for "the other users" is that they deserve to have secure, stable phones. That often means updates, which don't always come.

I still have my Nexus One, and none of the new phones have tempted me away from it. That's huge for me – I'm the type that always covets the shiniest new toys – but the Nexus One still beats the competition and it's nearly two years old. It performs as well and looks as good as it did the day I got it, and I lack nothing in being able to run all the new apps.

Hell, yeah. I tried out the nexus S, but took it back, it seemed too flimsy, and was missing key features I loved from Nexus One, like Notification blinking led/trackball, noise cancelling mic, expandable sdcard and the position of the on/off button on top. All i really liked of the S was the screen/touch, the NFC, and the front facing camera. I hope the next Nexus Next has all of these things, but i wouldn't hold my breath…

Nexus Prime is the rumor mill for the next Nexus – did everyone miss this? As a software engineer, the software is more important than the hardware. You can make old hardware perform with better software. However, without a clear release path it is impossible for this to happen. The reason Google's online services are great is that there is pretty much no deployment barriers between an engineer writing some new code and getting released into Gmail, Reader, etc. I hope that Google modify Android so that things are more modular. If they can make an abstraction between vanilla Android and the skins that sit on top of it, they can update the core Android separate from the skins. The problem with all the skins that the companies put on android is that they are their IP. It's how they differentiate themselves from the other android phones on the market.

I have read about the "Nexus Prime." I just am not recognizing it as a name until there is some sort of confirmation. As far as we know, they haven't even chosen an OEM yet. As for your argument about hardware v. software, I agree. The problem is, as you said, the skins. While I understand the companies desire and right to lay skins on Android, it tends slows the ability of the end user to get the latest core software. That's a core reason why I am waiting for the next "Pure Google" device to come to market. No skin means no need to wait to release software updates. Also, I love the dea of modular Android. Let's hope some of the engineers read Androinica comments!

If you have not already, try one of those custom roms based on galaxy s (Mosaic, Apex, etc). They are based on latest android 2.3.4 and you get full features of samsung phones (hi-res camera, hardware video decode, good battery, etc). Find them at the captivate dev xda forum.

You make good points but I think there are 2 sides to this. If you are totally driven by the latest-and-greatest software, your wait may be justified. The other side is the hardware. You can't have one without the other and some may lean more towards the hardware end of this spectrum, which includes me. As an industrial designer, the hardware is just as important if not more than the software. Most users don't notice all the design thinking behind hardware design. It's all working in a tight package behind the scenes, ergonomically, behaviorally, interactively, whereas the software is upfront and flashy in your face. Usually the Nexus' hardware dont have all the "Super-Phone" bells and whistles. As a tech-savvy consumer, I wouldn't be swayed by a Nexus' specs unless it had the baddest components slapped on. Its no mystery the Nexus phones have been geared more towards developers in mind for tinkering and testing. Yes it may have 4G + NFC, but it's not equipped with the best camera or largest screen or fastest processor sometimes. Sorry but to a true multi-social media smartphone user as many are today, those specs will not get it past 1st base in my book. I believe hardware plays a crucial part in the entire mobile experience. Don't get me wrong, Nexus One and S are fabulous phones…if you love only the pure Google Experience and nothing else.

Everyone thinks they are entitled to updates. Why is that? Did the manufacturer tell you when you bought it that it would be upgraded at all? Unless they tell its going to get an update then you should assume that it is not. They make the device and I 100% agree if you don't like that stance root and ROM the thing then you can have whatever version you want. You people act like because the 2011 GMC vehicles OnStar integrates with an Android App my 2010 should get a free upgrade because its not that old.